New golf pro no stranger to Patriot Golf Course

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
Jay Carey's golf journey has given him an opportunity to be around a golf course a lot over the past 20 years. Now manager of the Patriot Golf Course, the Massachusetts' south shore native and former golf standout at Nichols College will be no stranger to the course or its members.

"I started at the Patriot Golf Course three years ago providing private or group lessons, as well as running junior golf clinics in the summer that focused on developing the fundamentals in young golfers," said Carey. "I've always had a passion for teaching the game of golf."

Located approximately four miles from Hanscom on the grounds of the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Bedford, Mass., the nine-hole regulation course operated by the 66th Force Support Squadron will open for the season April 6.

Already impressed with the course and its play, Carey encourages golfers of all abilities to come out and play a round this spring.

"It's a great nine-hole course that will challenge any golfer of any ability," Carey said. "The golf course is a hidden jewel that's in great shape."

He is also looking forward to making the course even better this year for customers and expects to continue with private and group lessons.

"To begin with, we've purchased 12 new golf carts to replace older carts that routinely broke down," said Carey. "We hope to continue that cycle for the next three years."

In addition, Carey hopes to get the recently installed grass driving range open more often for customers. He also intends to schedule more tournaments and increase membership.

However, Carey joked about the schedule a manager keeps and offered this advice to anyone looking to be a golf pro.

"If you want to play golf, don't be golf pro. You rarely get to play golf," he said. "It's a sun-up to sun-down job that I enjoy and consider myself fortunate to have."

For more information or a full listing of annual and daily green fees, visit www.hanscomservices.com/PatriotGolfCourse.asp. To reserve a tee time, call 781-687-2396.